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Squatter plan - TEF approves $1 billion for infrastructural development of informal settlements

Published: Thursday | June 18, 2009


Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer WESTERN BUREAU:

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has approved $1 billion for infrastructure development in squatter settlements in two of the country's largest resort towns.
The island's Second City and tourism capital - Montego Bay, St James, and the cruise ship headquarters - Ocho Rios, St Ann, are to benefit from the injection, TEF chairman Godfrey Dyer told The Gleaner yesterday.
Dyer said the money, which is to be disbursed through the Ministry of Water and Housing over a two-year period, is the largest chunk to be released to any one project by the tourism entity.
In the initial stage, only three settlements are to be assisted in the infrastructure development of roads, water and light. They are Hillside/Flankers, Norwood and Lilliput in St James, and Shaw Park Heights in St Ann.
"A large number of tourism workers are living in these very areas," Dyer stated, noting that one of the most significant aims of the project is to see people receive ownership of the lands they have been living on for years without proof of tenure.

Absence of basic amenities
In many cases, these are the same communities that are plagued with crime and violence. The absence of basic amenities has made these communities a special challenge for the police in terms of easy access, especially at nights. Also, the absence of specific addresses and sound social structures have made the areas quite attractive to criminals.
The TEF's involvement stems from a recent recommendation by Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Dr Omar Davies, to have the fund allocated to build up informal settlements.
Davies' suggestion, put forward during a sitting of Parliament's standing finance committee, found favour with the Government, and Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in his response during the Budget Debate, said when he examined it, such expenditure would be in line with the prescribed objectives of the fund.
There are some 310 informal settlements on the island's north coast, with St James boasting 48 of them; St Ann, 60; Trelawny, 42; Hanover, 19, and St Mary and Portland totalling 91.

Lack normal facilities
"They lack all the normal facilities, including places for human waste disposal," argued Minister of Water and Housing Dr Horace Chang, who for several years has been championing the cause to get these informal communities regularised.
Admitting that it would take some $20 billion to break the back of informal settlements in this country, Chang said this money would go a far way in paving the process.

He revealed that the money would be used as a revolving fund, with funds going back into other communities once homeowners paid for their right of tenure. The water and housing minister is also convinced that, with titles in their hands, the residents will now be able to access mortgages.
"Once you give them road, water and light, and they can leverage their properties, it will change the community significantly," Chang said.